5 Best Guitars with P90s in 2024 – Plus 17 P90 Guitar Runner-Ups!

Last Updated on February 29, 2024 by Teemu Suomala

Look, P90s can do wonders for you. But only if the P90 sound really is for you and you get the right guitar.

In this article, I lay all the best guitars with P90s in front of you. Check them out, investigate them, maybe go to the music store and test them. But listen this, I recommend not spending next 6 months trying to decide if you should get one or not. You need to get playing your new or old guitar and get better ASAP.

The worst decision is not making the decision. And this article, will provide you with all needed to make the best possible decision. Let’s go.

Author: Teemu Suomala

More About Teemu▼

I first grabbed the guitar in 2009. I started this website in January 2020 because I couldn’t do window installation anymore due to my health problems. I love guitars and have played dozens and dozens of different guitars through different amps and pedals over the years, and also, building a website interested me, so I decided to just go for it! I got lucky and managed to get awesome people to help me with my website.

I also got lucky because I have you visiting my website right now. Thank you. I do all this for you guys. If you have any recommendations, tips, or feedback, just leave a comment, I would love to chat with you. I have also been fortunate to produce content for several large guitar websites, such as Songsterr, Musicnotes, GuitarGuitar, and Ultimate Guitar.

I spend my spare time exercising and hanging out with my wife and crazy dog (I guess that went the right way…).

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How Fender Mustang 90 sounds:

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Runner-Up – Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster Thinline

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Thomann

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Our Overall Rating

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Summary

Pros

• Seymor Ducan P90 pickups offer surprisingly beefy and really crisp sound
• Great rock guitar (especially for ballads)
• Spot-on finish & quality most of the time
• Comfortable & fun to play
• The chambered body adds a nice spark to this guitar

Cons

• Synthetic bone nut
• Some players don’t appreciate Indonesian made guitars that much (I do)

Who Is This For?

If you are after a guitar that can offer nice rock tones, harsh distortion, and you are ready to tame a semi-hollowbody, Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster Thinline is one of the best choices. You get nice quality, fun playability, and great P90 pickups. Sounds like a keeper to me.

Epiphone SG Special P-90

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Thomann

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Our Overall Rating

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Summary

Pros

• GraphTech NuBone nut increases sustain
• Meaty humbucker-like sound
• You can still notice that you are rocking with single-coils
• Comfortable to play, can work well for larger hands
• Most people agree that this guitar exceeded their expectations
• Offers great bang for the buck

Cons

• For small-handed folks, a slimmer neck is a better option
• Sometimes quality control issues (as with any budget guitar)

Who Is This For?

If you are after a budget guitar with P90s, prefer meaty sound, like rock & metal, and dig the SG playability, this Epiphone SG Special P-90 is a great choice. It is a good sounding guitar with a nice amount of versatility and it offers high value for the money. The best guitar with P90s under $500.

Best Hollowbody – Gretsch G2655T-P90

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Thomann

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Our Overall Rating

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Summary

Pros

• P90s have a modern twist in them (great for rock)
• Really easy playing semi-hollowbody guitar (thin U neck is smooth)
• The finish is usually spot on
• Versatile (can handle classic rock well too)
• Stunning looks
• The body is not thick (easy to handle)

Cons

• Synthetic Bone
• Quality control issues sometimes

Who Is This For?

If you are after hollow body guitar with P90s that can handle rock, offers really easy playability, and looks stunning, Gretsch G2655T-P90 is a great choice. It can handle almost any music, the quality is usually great, and the not-so-thick body is easy to handle.

Best Premium – Gibson Les Paul Special

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Thomann

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Our Overall Rating

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Summary

Pros

• Crunchy tones are amazing
• Really versatile
• Graphtech Tusq nut increases sustain
• Can I say “perfect classic rock guitar”
• Vintage 50s neck shape offers a good grip and is great for riffing (1.695″ nut width)
• Usually comes with a Hardshell Case

Cons

• Not the best neck profile for fast playing

Who Is This For?

If you are after a premium level instrument with excellent Rock N’ Roll sound, chunky neck (not too chunky tho), and versatility, Gibson Les Paul Special is one of the best options. Its meaty sound will most likely blow you away, and its smooth playability gets you hooked. The best premium guitar with P90s.

Compare The Key Specs:

17 Runner-Up Guitars With P90s

Price Range Icon Meanings:

$= $150-399

$$= $400-699

$$$= $700-999

$$$$= $1000-1599

$$$$$= $1600-

Keep reading to check the full reviews of the top 5 my friend!

If you want to get the best of both worlds, bright single-coil and thick humbucker sounds, P90 is hands down one of the best options.

Tyler put together a killer article that you might find interesting: P90 vs humbucker pickups.

And this article was a blast to craft. After all, I really like P90s, and this article includes one of the best guitars I know. From versatile all-rounders to budget picks to premium guitars. And please check out the “17 Runner-ups” list too. Because there’s a chance that I left the right guitar for you out of the top 5 and it might be on that runner-up list. Without further to do, let’s check out the 5 best guitars with P90 pickups first and then look at the runner-ups.

If you have any questions, just check the FAQ section or leave a comment.

Let’s get started!

Check our full electric guitar pickup types guide here.

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5 Best Guitars with P90s

Best Overall – Fender Mustang 90

Sound

Mustang 90 offers a really articulate sound that I personally enjoy a lot. You can notice that you are churning tones on single coils, but the tone is not as bright and thin as with normal single coils. And this is exactly why I like P90s. Perfect middle-ground.

These Mustang MP-90 single-coils are really great fit with punk, blues, rock, hard rock, and they can even handle some metal (Black Sabbath for example). But the 2 things I like the most with this axe are the clean and the rock tones. You can easily tap into Fender cleans with this guitar, and then switch on a really thrashy rock sound. And to me, this is exactly what I want from the guitar.

Tonally, I can’t say anything bad about this axe. Of course, it’s because this guitar hits the sweet spot for my personal taste. It might not satisfy die-hard metalheads and folks after really bright, spanky single-coil tones, but for me, it’s the best of 2 worlds.

Here’s a great sound demo:

Playability

Another reason why this Fender is one of my favorite guitars. This guitar has really easy and slim playability (especially if you own a small pair of hands like me). Here’s something about the playability:

1. The nut width is 1.65”(42mm). This narrow neck is great for a combination of short fingers and small palms. Accessing all the frets is made easy for you.

2. A 24” scale length reduces string tension, so playing this guitar doesn’t require much finger strength. You don’t need to drain all your effort to press the strings and this makes overall playability smoother.

3. The slim, C-shaped neck works the best for most players.

Also, the body style feels comfortable to me (my hands are tiny, otherwise I’m an average-sized guy). Vintage-styled 6-saddle bridge feels great against my hand, and the vintage saddle design anchors my hand to the bridge (I like this feature a lot).

But of course, the slim feel of this guitar is not for everyone, for example players with large hands might find it too tiny.

Overall Quality

I have found this Mustang to be one of the most consistent Mexican-made Fenders when it comes to quality (due to my experience and research). Sealed Standard Die-cast tuners hold the tune well, the finish is usually flawless & smooth, and everything works well out-of-the-box. Of course, some lemons might slip through sometimes.

The only real con to me is the Synthetic Bone nut. My experiences with these have not been good, and I would prefer plastic, real bone, nuBone, or Tusq over this. This doesn’t ruin the guitar, but it’s a con. I would try how it plays and sounds, and if it wears off quickly, I would replace it.

Summary 

Pros

• Spot-on nut width, C-neck shape, and 24 scale length make this axe really easy to play
• Good quality electronics
• Gnarly and hot P90 sound
• The neck is really comfortable (especially good for short fingers and small hands(find more small hand-friendly guitars here))
• Offers versatile and different tones
• Great axe for rock and punk music
• Classic looks
• Great quality & value for the money
• I like how bent saddles feel against my picking hand (it’s comfortable)

Cons

• Synthetic bone nut
• Slim feel doesn’t work for everyone

Our Ratings:

Who Is This For?

If you are an intermediate or advanced player and looking for a high-value guitar with slim playability, versatile P90s, and solid quality, Fender Mustang 90 is a top-notch choice. It offers the best tonal qualities of P90s, is easy to handle for most players, and doesn’t cost that much. The best guitar with P90s.

Check the full review of Fender Mustang P90 here.

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Runner-Up – Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster Thinline

Sound

When compared to Mustang 90 above, this JA-90 Tele highlights the bass frequencies a lot more. Gladly the guitar doesn’t lose its sparkling tone because of this. The tone is a bit shallow, I agree, but this can work well for some players. I see this guitar being a really good fit for slower rock ballads, blues, country, and jazz.

When you dial in some distortion, the Seymour Duncan SP90-1N RWRP Vintage & Seymour Duncan SP90-3 Custom Single-coils have a surprisingly nice amount of grid in them and they sound hot. So you don’t have to fear that you are getting a”cleans-only” semi-hollow body. When it comes to rock tones, this guitar can handle stuff like Foo Fighters, White Stripes, and Nirvana like a breeze. But of course, it doesn’t offer you really meaty metal distortion.

All-in-all, JA-90 is tonally a versatile semi-hollow, that can offer tones from moody cleans to harsh rock tones.

Here’s a great sound demo:

Playability

Some features affecting the playability:

• 24.75″ scale length (shorter scale reduces string tension)
• The Modern C neck is slim and smooth to play
• Familiar 9.5″ radius paired with Medium Jumbo frets feels comfortable

I prefer Fender Mustang 90 over this Tele when it comes to playability, but this doesn’t mean JA-90 is hard to play. Absolutely not. It’s smooth & comfortable playing, and the Tele body style usually works really well for almost every player.

Overall Quality

This Tele is Indoenisian made, and for some players, this can downgrade the quality (this is mostly psychological). But in reality, JA-90 doesn’t get many complaints about its quality. Not any more than Mexican-made Fenders for example. Its finish is usually spot-on and tuning stability is solid, but some setup has to be made usually. And we have to remember that it comes with great Seymor Ducan pickups, so the value is there.

Again, the synthetic bone nut takes a bit out of the quality score, but still, this Tele passes with flying grades.

Summary 

Pros

• Seymor Ducan P90 pickups offer surprisingly beefy and really crisp sound
• Great rock guitar (especially for ballads)
• Spot-on finish & quality most of the time
• Comfortable & fun to play
• The chambered body adds a nice spark to this guitar

Cons

• Synthetic bone nut
• Some players don’t appreciate Indonesian made guitars that much (I do)

Our Ratings:

Who Is This For?

If you are after a guitar that can offer nice rock tones, harsh distortion, and you are ready to tame a semi-hollowbody, Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster Thinline is one of the best choices. You get nice quality, fun playability, and great P90 pickups. Sounds like a keeper to me.

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Best P90 Guitar Under $500 – Epiphone SG Special P-90

Sound

This Epiphone SG provides really beefy sound, that’s a good fit with rock, hard rock, and metal(not the best for super heavy stuff). You can still spot that you are jamming with single-coils, especially when playing cleans, but to me, these P-90 PRO Soap Bar pickups offer a nice amount of “humbucker-like magic”.

And one great thing is that Epiphone has slipped a GraphTech NuBone nut to this guitar. It’s not a huge difference-maker, but it does increase the sustain and the overall value (at least in my head).

Overall, I would call this SG a budget P90 guitar for Heavy sound. You can get nice cleans out of it too, but it shines with distortion.

AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses, etc. are a match made in heaven for this guitar.

Here’s a great sound demo:

Playability

Personally I prefer the slimmer playability of the Fender guitars listed previously, but this SG is still fun & comfortable to play. Usually the fret edges are smooth, the neck feels great, and with the right setup, fretting notes is easy. If you don’t like a slim neck and want a budget guitar with P90s, this is one of your top dogs when it comes to playability.

Here are some features:

• 60s SlimTaper neck is comfortable & still slimmer than 50s necks
• 1.6892 nut width, is still relatively easy to handle for everyone
• With low action, the Medium Jumbo frets feel effortless to play

So on paper, everything looks as it should with the SG. And to me, this guitar fits all the standards of a great budget SG when it comes to playability. If it looks like an SG, and if it sounds like an SG, it probably is an SG.

Overall Quality

As always with budget guitars, some quality control issues can happen. Stuff like rough fret edges, scratches, poor setup, etc. But based on my research, most people rave about this guitar. They really like what this SG offers in terms of sound, quality, and feel. I like to keep my expectations realistic, but this guitar seems to offer really good quality & value for the money.

Summary 

Pros

• GraphTech NuBone nut increases sustain
• Meaty humbucker-like sound
• You can still notice that you are rocking with single-coils
• Comfortable to play, can work well for larger hands
• Most people agree that this guitar exceeded their expectations
• Offers great bang for the buck

Cons

• For small-handed folks, a slimmer neck is a better option
• Sometimes quality control issues (as with any budget guitar)

Our Ratings:

Who Is This For?

If you are after a budget guitar with P90s, prefer meaty sound, like rock & metal, and dig the SG playability, this Epiphone SG Special P-90 is a great choice. It is a good sounding guitar with a nice amount of versatility and it offers high value for the money. The best guitar with P90s under $500.

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Best Semi-Hollowbody With P90s – Gretsch G2655T-P90

Sound

FideliSonic P-90 Single-coils don’t offer the most vintage-styled sound, that’s for sure. They are more of a modern touch added to a vintage guitar design. These P90s have a strong rock vibe in them. And by this, I mean Foo Fighters, not Elvis Presley type of rock tones. This Gretsch is no one-trick pony, so it can handle classic rock too, but it’s made for rock music of the ’90s and ’00s.

Distorted tones have grit in them, and you don’t have to worry about sounding too thin. This Gretsch can cut through the mix. Cleans come out sparkling and clear, plus if you use the neck humbucker and decrease the tone with a knob a little, you have really gentle sound at your fingertips.

If you are after semi-hollowbody guitar with more vintage tone, check out Guild Starfire I Jet 90.

Here’s a great sound demo:

Playability

The same applies to playability, not the most vintage-styled feel. A thin U-neck shape feels really smooth, I could even say “fast”(Many ESP guitars use a thin U shape). The body is not very thick, so there’s not much learning curve if you are transitioning to semi-hollow from Stratocaster for example.

I must add that the Bigsby tremolo is amazing. It adds so much to your playing and it’s smooth to use.

To me, this Gretsch is easy playing as a semi-hollow guitar can get. 1.6875″ nut width is easy to handle and Medium Jumbo frets provide a great feel when played with the right setup. Passes with flying grades when it comes to playability.

Overall Quality

Sometimes under $1k Gretsch’s can have finish issues. A couple of years ago my friend’s dad ordered a $500 Gretsch and had to send it back because of the bad paint job. He bought a Hagstrom hollow body instead and has been happy with it. A big brand that produces a ton of guitars can have these issues, but since we are talking about relatively affordable guitars, I wouldn’t worry about this too much.

And based on my latest research about this Gretsch G2655T-P90, the quality control has done a good job, and most of the time the finish is flawless. But again, the use of synthetic bone nut is a bummer.

Summary 

Pros

• P90s have a modern twist in them (great for rock)
• Really easy playing semi-hollowbody guitar (thin U neck is smooth)
• The finish is usually spot on
• Versatile (can handle classic rock well too)
• Stunning looks
• The body is not thick (easy to handle)

Cons

• Synthetic Bone
• Quality control issues sometimes

Not enough Gretsch in this article? Check out our 5 Best Gretsch Guitars!

Our Ratings:

Who Is This For?

If you are after hollow body guitar with P90s that can handle rock, offers really easy playability, and looks stunning, Gretsch G2655T-P90 is a great choice. It’s can handle almost any music, the quality is usually great, and the not-so-thick body is easy to handle.

You can find more great hollow-body guitars here.

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Best Premium – Gibson Les Paul Special

Sound

These P90s are not the brightest, and they offer really well-balanced sound. Gentle cleans are really sweet, and when you dial in some gain, the crunchy tones are really crisp. To me, this is a perfect classic rock guitar. That being said, it should be noted that this axe is still really versatile.

This LP can do anything from country to metal, and of course for this price, it should. And I’m happy to say that this Les Paul delivers when it comes to sound.

It’s hard to believe that anyone could be disappointed with these tones.

Here’s a great sound demo:

Playability

Vintage 50s neck is way thicker than with Stratocasters, but it’s still not super thick. And that’s just how I like my Les Pauls. Really meaty U or D shape can make playing a bit tricky for small-handed players like me, and it’s great that a guitar this good has a playability that almost anyone can appreciate.

Overall, this guitar is great for players looking for Les Paul playability, but doesn’t necessarily need a really meaty neck. This can also work great for Fender lovers wanting some Gibson magic.

Overall Quality

I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I really didn’t find any trash about this guitar. The quality seemed to be top-notch almost always, the guitar stays in tune well, and the finish is flawless. Everything looks great! And for this price, everything should look like this.

Summary 

Pros

• Crunchy tones are amazing
• Can I say “perfect classic rock guitar”
• Really versatile
• Graphtech Tusq nut increases sustain
• Vintage 50s neck shape offers a good grip and is great for riffing (1.695″ nut width)
• Usually comes with a Hardshell Case

Cons

• Not the best neck profile for fast playing

Our Ratings:

Who Is This For?

If you are after a premium level instrument with excellent Rock N’ Roll sound, chunky neck (not too chunky tho), and versatility, Gibson Les Paul Special is one of the best options. Its meaty sound will most likely blow you away, and its smooth playability gets you hooked. The best premium guitar with P90s.

You can find a list of “cheap” Gibson guitars, plus alternatives here.

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Buyer’s Guide – FAQ

How To Choose The Right Guitars With P90s For You?

Pay attention to body style, neck shape & specifications, and to specific P90 pickups. Let’s go through these key points:

Body Style

Think about which electric guitar body style fits your playing style and is easy & comfortable to handle.

• Mustang and Jazzmaster shapes usually have a shorter scale and the body is slimmer.
• Stratocaster has a thin body and works great for many players.
• Telecaster usually has a tad thicker body than Stratocaster.
• Les Paul and Single-Cut guitars are usually a bit thicker and have worse upper fret access(frets below 15 on low E, A, and D strings).
• SG has a relatively thick body, but arched & smoother edges.
• Hollowbody and semi-hollowbody guitars have overall larger and thicker bodies.

I personally prefer Mustangs, Jazzmasters, and thin body Les Pauls with P90s. That kind of combo is just the most fun for me. You just have to test different guitars, do research, and choose the best one for you.

Find our full guide of electric guitar anatomy here.

Neck Shape & Specifications

First, decide if you want a narrow or wide neck. Nut width is your indicator here.

• 1.61″-1.65″ are narrow
• 1.875″ are on the wider side

Next, the neck shape. One of the key things determining how your guitar feels. Here are a couple of common shapes:

Here are a couple of neck shapes that can usually be found from guitars with P90 pickups:

• C = Round, smooth, fits a hand of a human being.
• Modern C = Slimmer version of the normal C.
• U = Flat from the back, meaty, supports correct thumb placement (at the back of the neck).
• Thin U = Thinner version of the U. Pretty fast-playing usually.
• D = Meaty, round, and chunky.

Again, test different guitars, do research, and then, pull the trigger. Choose the right one.

To learn more about neck shapes, check this guide I made: Guitar Neck Shape Guide – Shapes Explained

P90 Pickups

There are tons of different P90 pickups out there. So it’s maybe not the best idea to just go and say “oh, I want a guitar with P90s…just give me some guitar with P90s”. Nope.

Listen to sound demos, read reviews, do research, and if possible, test the specific pair of pickups you are interested in. And I must note that there are no P90s out there that sound like day and night. P90s are still P90s. They will always have some same qualities and tonal characteristics. But there definitely are some differences between them. So do your research.

Find our full electric guitar pickup types article here.

What Makes A Great Guitar With P90s?

Great guitar with P90s has a body style and neck that fits your playing style and preferences. It also has P90s that offer great tones for the music you want to play.

Personally, my dream guitar with P90s has:

• Modern C, C, or Thin U neck shape
• Comfortable, not very thick body
• Pair of P90s that offer great rock tones and sparkling cleans

Those things above sound pretty amazing to me. Let me know in the comments what features your dream axe with P90s has!

What Are P90s Good For?

P90s are really versatile pickups that bring some single-coil brightness and humbucker warmth & thickness to the table. P90 pickups are usually great for:

• Punk
• Classic rock
• Rock
• Hard Rock
• Blues
• Country
• Old-School/Lighter Metal

Check our other P90 articles:

What Are P90 Pickups – And What Are They Good For?

15 Guitars With P90 and Humbucker – Plus 3 Best Ones

7 Offset Guitars With P90s – And My Favorites

Conclusion

I just love guitars with P90s. So great to have the middle-ground option. And to be honest, these pups fit my musical taste super well! It’s awesome to churn out punk riffs and rock solos with P90s. This article included some of the best of the best guitar with P90 pickups. True cream of the top axes. I hope you had fun and I managed to help you out.

If you have any questions, leave a comment, I and the GND team are here for you.

Now go, my son, and Rock!

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